Black tennis star Sloane Stephens revealed she was bombarded with harassing comments following her loss at the U.S. Open.
On Friday, the 28-year-old athlete lost to German tennis player Angelique Kerber in the third-round match. Following the tournament, Stephens estimates that she received over 2,000 abusive messages.
“I am human,” she wrote. “After last night’s match I got 2K + messages of abuse/anger from people upset by yesterday’s result.”
Texas Abortion Ban Comes As Black Women Leaders Have Been Demanding Reproductive Justice
“It’s so hard to read messages like these, but I’ll post a few so you guys can see what it’s like after a loss,” she wrote in an Instagram story, according to Reuters.
Stephens shared a series of offensive messages that were sent to her.
“I promise to find you and destroy your leg so hard that you can’t walk anymore @sloanestephens! Fixer and corruption like you must be ban forever in jail! I hope you enjoyed your last moments on court today,” read one.
Sloane shared screenshots of messages that were filled with threats and racial slurs. Other horrific comments revealed sexual abuse and physical threats. The disgusting messages were full of obscenities and there’s one that even wished for her to be raped.
“This type of hate is so exhausting and never ending,” said Stephens, the 2017 U.S. Open champion from Florida.
“This isn’t talked about enough, but it really freaking sucks,” she shared on her Instagram account. “I’m happy to have people in my corner who support me. I’m choosing positive vibes over negative ones.”
Source: Black Tennis Star Sloane Stephens Harassed With Abusive Messages and Racial Slurs After US Open Loss
